Hyphenation ofintercommunication

French Syllable Analysis of "intercommunication"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "intercommunication" in French is pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis. The 'r' is a uvular fricative, typical of French. Vowel sounds are generally clear and distinct.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - functions to indicate reciprocity or exchange.
• Root: communic- (Latin, communicare - "to share, impart") - the core meaning of conveying information.
• Suffix: -ation (Latin, -atio) - forms a noun denoting an action or process.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: com-mu-ni-ca-tion. While French stress is generally less prominent than in English, this syllable is slightly more emphasized.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɛ̃.tɛʁ.kɔ.my.ni.ka.sjɔ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• in-: /ɛ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No consonant clusters to break. Exception: Nasal vowel.
• ter-: /tɛʁ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant 'r' follows a vowel, forming a syllable. Exception: The 'r' is a uvular fricative, a characteristic of French pronunciation.
• com-: /kɔ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound 'o' forms the nucleus.
• mu-: /my/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel 'u' followed by consonant 'm'.
• ni-: /ni/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel 'i' forms the nucleus.
• ca-: /ka/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel 'a' forms the nucleus.
• tion: /sjɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'tion' follows a vowel. Exception: Nasal vowel and the 't' is silent.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'r' sound is a key consideration. French 'r' is not a trill but a uvular fricative, which influences the syllable structure. The silent 't' in 'tion' is also a common feature of French morphology.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Intercommunication" functions primarily as a noun in French ( intercommunication - feminine). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The exchange of information between people or groups.
• Translation: Communication
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• Synonyms: échange d'informations, communication
• Antonyms: isolement, incompréhension
• Examples: "L'intercommunication est essentielle dans une équipe." (Intercommunication is essential in a team.)

10. Phonological Comparison:

• communication: /kɔ.my.ni.ka.sjɔ̃/ - Similar syllable structure, but lacks the initial 'inter-'.
• information: /ɛ̃.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar stress patterns.
• international: /ɛ̃.tɛʁ.na.sjɔ.nal/ - Demonstrates the 'inter-' prefix and similar vowel sounds.

11. Division Rules:

• Vowel Nucleus Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are complex or followed by a vowel.
• French 'r' Rule: The French 'r' is treated as a syllable-forming element.
• Silent Letter Rule: Silent letters (like the 't' in 'tion') do not affect syllable division.

12. Special Considerations:

The nasal vowels (/ɛ̃/, /ɔ̃/) require careful consideration as they influence syllable boundaries. The pronunciation of the 'r' is crucial for accurate syllabification.